The St James College Choir won a Gold Award at the Queensland Catholic Schools and Colleges Music Festival QCMF last Friday night, a historic first for the choir in the Choir 1A category.

Fifteen students from Years 5 to 12 came together to form the choir for the event and have been rehearsing for the event for weeks. Performing in three-part harmony, the choir captivated the audience with two powerful pieces: the iconic Australian anthem "You're the Voice" by John Farnham, and Tim Godfrey’s vibrant Nigerian praise song "Nara Ekele Mo", which means "take my thanksgiving" in the Igbo language.

The performance left a lasting impression on the adjudicators who said, "We are all richer from having heard them sing tonight," and "There is something very authentic and spiritual about watching people sing with that much love and passion. You can't help but feel it."

St James College teacher and choir conductor Breanna McCarthy said the choir’s outstanding achievement is a testament to the dedication and talent of the students and the incredible guidance of the extremely passionate music team.

Congratulations to the choir whose voices truly made history. Gratitude also goes to Jimmies inspiring teachers Michael Harrop, Breanna McCarthy, Brodie McAllister, George Waqairagata and Chelsea Stutchbury whose leadership and love for music made the choir’s success possible.

In 2025, QCMF is celebrating its 34th year. Hosted by Villanova College Coorparoo, the festival is the premier event on the Catholic schools’ music calendar, showcasing outstanding music education across classical and contemporary genres.